New computer - x64 or x32?

[Lennart Sorensen]

On Sat, Sep 01, 2007 at 06:36:34PM -0700, Tyler Aviss wrote:
> As sad as I am to say it, unless you need the extra >4G of RAM, you'll
> probably be happier with a 32-bit distro on your 64-bit CPU. I've been
> using a 64-bit debian on my dual-opteron machine, and despite some
> performance increases in ripping movies, etc, in general the lack of
> support for some apps under the 64-bit environment is a big
> pain-in-the-butt.
> 
> 
> 64bit
> - Higher memory support
> - Some speed increase in various instances
> - Better scalability
> - May use more memory (some 64-bit binaries)
> 
> 32bit
> - Supports more apps, including the adobe flash plugin for firefox, etc
> - In the event of machine death, you can still boot on a 32-bit CPU
> 
> 
> Also see here:
> 
> http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=616&num=3

Of course you can get the best of both worlds:

Install either Debian 32bit and install the amd64 kernel and then setup
a 64bit chroot for the apps where 64bit really matter, or install Debian
64bit and setup a 32bit chroot for the few things that don't yet work on
64bit.  Using debootstrap to create a chroot is really very simple.

You get the best of both worlds that way.  Personally I have run the
32bit install with a 64bit chroot for testing and playing in, although I
think a 64bit install with a 32bit chroot is more common.

--
Len Sorensen
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